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Dan Carter

Daniel Carter is near faultless in every department: he can attack, make a break, kick tactically and accurately at goal, and be brave and unyielding on defence – and has shown repeatedly his ability to play with almost equal effectiveness in other positions, particularly the midfield.

The incomparable All Blacks playmaker, Vice Captain and top points scorer set a new international point-scoring record during Rugby World Cup 2011 and became the most capped All Blacks first five-eighth in his first Test outing of 2012.

The highest point scorer in Super Rugby history, Carter made a successful recovery from a groin injury that ended his RWC 2011 campaign and showed his versatility in appearing at second five-eighth for the Crusaders in the early rounds of 2012 Investec Super Rugby before resuming kicking duties.

He ended 2010 as the leading points scorer in Test rugby (1188) after surpassing Jonny Wilkinson’s tally of 1178 during the Wales Test on the All Blacks end of year tour, with Wilkinson reclaiming the record (1195) in 2011.

His modest demeanour off the field is in contrast to his presence on the pitch, where he is an excellent tactician with the strength of most midfield backs.

After debuting for the Crusaders in 2003, he became an All Black that same year, displaying huge talent at the tender age of 21. He was a member of the title-winning Crusaders Development squad in the 2002 season and top-scored for New Zealand at the 2002 Under 21 World Cup in South Africa with 72 points, including a haul of 25 against England.

Carter was named 2005 IRB Player of the Year, and New Zealand’s Player of the Year, after a season punctuated by a career-highlight in the second Test against the British & Irish Lions in Wellington when he scored two tries, five penalties, and four conversions, clocking up 33 points in the All Blacks 48-18 victory, and passing the previous All Blacks record of 18 points in a Lions Test.

In 2006 Carter's 25 points against South Africa at Wellington tied the All Black single-match record against South Africa. His 15th Test try, scored against England in London, set a new All Blacks record for most Test tries by a five-eighth, a record he extended against France in Lyon.

In June 2008 Carter signed with French club Perpignan on a sabbatical from New Zealand rugby but his French sojourn was disrupted in January 2009, when he tore his Achilles tendon playing for the Top 14 side against Stade Francais.

He returned to New Zealand that year and played matches for Canterbury before returning to the All Blacks towards the end of the Tri Nations.

In 2009 he broke the All Blacks all time record points-scoring record, overtaking Andrew Mehrten's mark of 967 points.

After an exteded break followed by injury in 2014, Carter managed to make a rousing return to rugby with the Crusaders before delighting his home province of Canterbury when he appeared during the ITM Cup, New Zealand’s premier interprovincial competition.

Former All Black Dan Carter and former Wallaby Matt Giteau have done battle on many rugby fields through the years and they were at it again when Carter's Kobe Kobelco Steelers beat Suntory Sungoliath 55-5 to win their second Japan Rugby Top League title on Saturday.
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Preparing players for the onus of playing first five-eighths has become something of an art form in All Blacks selection in recent times and Richie Mo'unga will become the latest variation on a theme in Saturday's Investec Rugby Championship Test against Argentina in Nelson.
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All Blacks TV catches up with Keven Mealamu, Tony Woodcock, Conrad Smith, Ma'a Nonu, Dan Carter and captain Richie McCaw after the All Blacks retained The Bledisloe Cup for another year and Richie became the most capped rugby player of all time.
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Career Comments

• Started his All Blacks career at second five-eighths.• The 21 points he scored against England in 2004 equals the most by an All Black against that opponent.• Scored 465 first-class points in an outstanding 2004 season.• Scored 33 points against the British & Irish Lions in the Second Test at Wellington,an individual single-match record for points against the Lions. His total of 44 points in two Tests against the 2005 Lions leaves Carter just two points shy of the most points scored by any player in all Tests against the Lions.• Scored 20 points against Wales on his All Blacks Test debut and in 2005, in his third match against the Red Dragons, scored 26 points, an individual single-match record for an All Black against Wales.• His 221 points ranked first, by a comfortable margin, amongst all players in the 2006 Super Rugby season. Surpassed Crusaders predecessor Andrew Mehrtens’ single-season record of 206 points.

Awards• 2004 – Kelvin Tremain Memorial Trophy for Player of the Year and Rebel Sport Super 14 Player of the Year• 2005 – Kelvin Tremain Memorial Trophy for Player of the Year and IRB International Player of the Year• 2006 – Rebel Sport Super 14 Player of the Year• 2010 – Most Super Rugby and Test points in the world